Wrist supporting device for bowlers



Jan. 14, 1964 J. H. ANDEIQSON WRIST SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR BOWLERS FiledApril 17, 1962 INVENTOR. JOHN H. ANDERSON BY FULWIDER, MATTINGLY &

HU NTLEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3 117 786 WRIST SUPPORTINGDEVICE FOR BOWLERS John Anderson, 1244 E. 6th St., Long Beach 12,Calif., tssigfnor of one-half to Jack S. Anderson, Long Beach,

Filed Apr. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 188,184 3 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) The presentinvention relates to wrist supporting devices, and more particularly todevices for maintaining a persons wrist joint relatively inflexible.

The sport of bowling has, within recent years, enjoyed increasedpopularity. As a result, considerable time and effort have been devotedto improving the sport, particularly with regard to assisting people inbeing able to attain better bowling scores. Such efforts have indicatedthat in order to effect the most desirable delivery of the bowling ballit is necessary that the bowlers wrist joint be relatively inflexible.This insures that the bowlers thumb will leave the bowling ball first,so that as the finger or fingers subsequently are removed from the balla spinning action is imparted to the ball. This action is very desirablein that, among other reasons, it enables the bowler to more easilycontrol the direction of travel of the ball and provides considerablymore action in upsetting the bowling pins.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wristsupporting device which will substanti-ally prevent flexing of thewearers wnist joint.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a supportingdevice which partially encircles the wearers wrist, hand and forearm sothat the hand and forearm operate as a unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrist supportingdevice as characterized above which is comfortable to the wearers arm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Wrist supportingdevice as characterized above which can be easily attached to andremoved from a persons arm.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrist supportingdevice as characterized above which is light in weight, but very rigidin operation so as to afford the necessary supporting function.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrist supportingdevice as characterized above which is simple and inexpensive tomanufacture and which is rugged and dependable in operation.

The novel features which I consider characteristic of my invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The device itself,however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, togetherwith additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understoodfrom the following description of specific embodiments when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a wrist supporting device according tothe present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a bowlers hand and forearmprovided with the device of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the bowlers arm;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring to FIGURES l and 5 of the drawings, the embodiment chosen forillustration of the present invention comprises a support member formedof rela- 3,117,786 Patented Jan. 14, 1964 "ice tively inflexiblematerial and provided with a generally U-shaped transversecross-section. Support member 10 may be formed of any relatively stiffor rigid sheet material which is formable as will hereinafter bedescribed. In order to make the wrist supporting device as comfortableas possible for the wearer, it has been found preferable, to makesupport member 10 out of aluminum, light weight plastic or other similarmaterial.

In order to provide the desired rigidity to the wearers Wrist, as willhereinafter become more apparent, support member 10 should be of suchlength as to cover approximately three or four inches of the wearersforearm, and approximately the same amount of the wearers hand. Toaflord maximum rigidity or inflexibility to the wearers wrist joint andto make the entire supporting device comfortable for the wearer, it isdesirable that the support member 10 be formed to closely conform to theshape of the wearers wrist, forearm and hand. In this regard, it isdesirable that member 10 be formed with a curved or irregular sidesurface, as shown generally at 12 in 'FIG- URE 1, to thereby provide aprotuberance 14 for comfortably receiving the wrist bone of the wearer,as shown most clearly in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

The aforedescribed shape of the wrist supporting device is related tothe support member 10* since this member is the only inflexible memberin the entire device. That is, Whatever special shape is provided in theresulting device is dependent upon the shape of the member 10.

Fastened to the internal or concave surface of the support member 10, byany suitable bonding agent, is a protective pad v18 formed of flexiblematerial. Pad 18 may be formed of sponge rubber or plastic, and isintended to provide a comfortable cushion for the wearers forearm, wristand hand. In this manner, the stiff support member 10 is prevented fromdirectly contacting the wearers arm, and hence the discomfort of wearingsuch a supporting device is greatly minimized. Protective pad 18 shouldbe of such length and width as to extend beyond the margins of supportmember 10.

In order to firmly hold the supporting device in proper position on thewearers wrist, the present invention includes suitable fastening meanswhich includes a cover 20 which encircles support member 10 and thewearers arm to hold the device in the desired positions. The cover '20of the fastening means may take substantially any desired form and isshown in the drawings as comprising a piece of flexible cloth, leather,or an imitation thereof which completely covers the external or convexsurface of member 10.

The main portion 21 of cover 20 should be of such size as to cover themarginal edges of the resilient pad 18 which is somewhat larger than thesupport member 10 as above described. It is desirable that main portion21 of the fastening means 20 be bonded to both the support member 10 andto the marginal edges of pad 18.

The main portion 21 of cover 20, as shown at 21a, extends a considerabledistance beyond the side margin of the support member 10 and pad 18 soas to firmly engage the underside of the wearers forearm, wrist and handas shown most clearly in FIGURE 4. An L-shaped or curved cutout as shownat 21b is provided in cover 20 to accommodate the wearers thumb when thesupporting device is being worn.

Suitable fastening devices such as buckles and straps therefor may beemployed with the cover 20 of the fastening means to retain thesupporting device in proper position. The embodiment shown in thedrawings, comprises buckles 30, 32 and 34 which are mounted along themarginal edge of cover 2%). Suitable straps 36, 38 and 40, forcooperation respectively with buckles 30, 3-2 and 34, are attached tothe opposite marginal edge of cover 20 by any suitable means such assewing, bonding or the like. If desired, the buckles may be individuallyattached to the stationary end of the respective straps, as shown withrespect to buckle 30 and strap 36. In the alternative, however, thebuckles may be attached to the cover 20 independently of the respectivestraps as shown in the drawings with respect to buckles 32 and 34. Thelatter arrangement shows the use of a separate fastening strip 42 towhich the buckles 32 and 34 are attached and which, in turn, is suitablyfastened to cover 21 by stitching or the like. In like fashion, thestraps 38 and 40 are attached to a separate fastening strip, and may beformed integrally therewith as shown at 44 in FIGURE 2.

The forward strap 36 is mounted along the forward edge of the cover 20so as to extend between the thumb and forefinger of the wearer when thesupporting device is secured in place. The straps 38 and 49, on theother hand, merely extend about the forearm of the wearer, the strap 38being in close proximity to the wearers wrist, while the strap 40 isspaced therefrom.

The subject wrist supporting device is attached to the wearer byinitially being placed in the open condition as shown in FIGURE 1 of thedrawings. The wearers arm is then placed in the device such that thewearers wrist bone fits within the protuberance 14. With the wearers armso positioned, the straps 36, 38 and 40 are encircled about the wearersarm, into engagement with the respective buckles 30, 32 and 34. Suchstraps are then drawn tight so as to firmly hold the supporting devicein engagement with the wearers forearm, wrist and hand.

Due to the shape of the subject supporting device, the wearers handbecomes virtually immovable with respect to the forearm. In particular,the wearers hand is prevented from moving rearwardly relative to hisforearm due to the fact that the support member is U-shaped andcompletely covers the sides and rear of the hand, wrist and forearm.This feature is particularly desirable in the sport of bowling in thatthe wearers wrist cannot break during delivery of the bowling ball asabove explained.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a wrist supportingdevice which is very effective for maintaining the wearers wrist jointstiff and inflexible.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of myinvention I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possible.My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as isnecessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wrist supporting device comprising, a substantially rigid supportmember having a generally U-shape to bridge the wearers wrist joint onthe top, bottom, and side opposite the thumb to prevent pivotal movementof the wearers hand in a direction away from the thumb, said memberbeing open all along the side thereof normally adjacent the wearersthumb, said member being deformable manually to provide a protuberancefor receiving the wearers wrist bone to allow said support member toconform to the wearers wrist, said support member being of suflicientlength to extend from the back of the hand to a point above the wrist, aresilient cushion fixed to said support member on the inside surfacethereof and conforming to the U-shape thereof, and fastening means onsaid support member for firmly holding said support member in saidbridging position.

2. A wrist supporting device according to claim 1 wherein said resilientcushion comprises a pad of sponge rubber bonded to said support member.

3. A wrist supporting device according to claim 1 wherein said fasteningmeans comprises a plurality of buckles and cooperating straps attachedto said support member for fastening the latter to the wearers wrist.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,388,330 Iungmann Nov. 6, 1945 2,529,786 Shaw Nov. 14, 1950 2,794,638Risher et al. June 4, 1957 2,924,458 Barry Feb. 9, 1960 3,036,831 EnganMay 29, 1962

1. A WRIST SUPPORTING DEVICE COMPRISING, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID SUPPORTMEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY U-SHAPE TO BRIDGE THE WEARER''S WRIST JOINT ONTHE TOP, BOTTOM, AND SIDE OPPOSITE THE THUMB TO PREVENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENTOF THE WEARER''S HAND IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE THUMB, SAID MEMBERBEING OPEN ALL ALONG THE SIDE THEREOF NORMALLY ADJACENT THE WEARER''STHUMB, SAID MEMBER BEING DEFORMABLE MANUALLY TO PROVIDE A PROTUBERANCEFOR RECEIVING THE WEARER''S WRIST BONE TO ALLOW SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TOCONFORM TO THE WEARER''S WRIST, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING OF SUFFICIENTLENGTH TO EXTEND FROM THE BACK OF THE HAND TO A POINT ABOVE THE WRIST, ARESILIENT CUSHION FIXED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ON THE INSIDE SURFACETHEREOF AND CONFORMING TO THE U-SHAPE THEREOF, AND FASTENING MEANS ONSAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR FIRMLY HOLDING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IN SAIDBRIDGING POSITION.